CLEAR Path Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pfluger
Introduced
Summary
Extended post‑employment bans for senior, Senate‑confirmed officials. The bill bars former agency heads and other Senate‑confirmed executive officials from knowingly representing, aiding, or advising a foreign governmental entity of a listed "country of concern" before U.S. executive or legislative officials with the intent to influence official duties. It also creates a formal, Congress‑approved process for adding or removing countries from the "country of concern" list.
Show full summary
- Senior officials: Prohibits post‑service representation, aid, or advice to foreign governmental entities of a country of concern before U.S. officials to influence official actions. Violations are punishable under existing federal criminal law and the restriction includes a five‑year sunset for new appointees.
- Agencies: Departments must notify individuals at appointment and again at termination so officials know their post‑employment limits.
- Country list and process: The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, may propose additions or deletions to the list. A change takes effect only after a no‑preamble joint resolution of approval by Congress and newly added countries trigger a 30‑day delay before the restriction applies to appointees.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Ban on ex-officials lobbying for certain countries
This bill would bar former Senate-confirmed executive-branch officials from, after leaving, representing, aiding, or advising certain foreign governments before U.S. officials to influence decisions. The ban would apply only to people appointed on or after enactment; if a new country is added later, it would start 30 days after Congress approves that change. Licensed U.S. attorneys could still give legal advice, and agencies would have to give written notice at appointment and at exit. Five years after enactment, new appointees would not be covered, but earlier conduct would still be covered; a State Department overlap would also be avoided. Violations could face criminal penalties under existing law.
How the country-of-concern list could change
This bill would let the Secretary of State, with the Attorney General, propose adding or removing countries on the “country of concern” list. A change would take effect only if Congress passes a special joint resolution with set wording and committee referrals. This process could expand or narrow which foreign governments trigger the post-employment ban.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pfluger
TX • R
Cosponsors
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov